Car-coupling



H. B. LIEDBL. GAR ooUPLINe.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec.15, 1891. Y

' UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

HANS B. LEDEL, OF MINNEOTA, MINNESOTA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 465,377, dated December 15, 1891. Application filed March 27, 1891. Serial No. 386,599. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it fmay concern.-

Be it known that I, HANS B. LEDEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneota, in the county of Lyon and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Car- Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car -couplings, more particularly of the pin-and-link type; and the object of the same is to provide an improved car-coupling of that character.

To this end the invention consists of the details of construction more particularly hereinafter described and claimed, and as illustrated on the two sheets of drawings, where- Figure l is a perspective view of the end of the car, showing my formof a pin-lifter and draw-head. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the draw-head and pin with the latter raised. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the pin as dropped through the link.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter C designates a car, and D` is the draw-head, supported by and beneath the car in any suitable or well-known manner.

In the construction illustrated P is a pin moving vertically through the draw-head and through eyes I, carried by the car, between which it has a stationary collar or enlargement E to prevent its dislocation.

O is an operating-lever pivoted at p to the end of the car and having a handle H standing at the side of the car.

V is a vertical rod passing through eyes t in the end of the car and having a handle at the top of the car, and C are chains connecting the inner and lower ends, respectively, of the lever and rod with the upper end of the Although have not shown it, it will be understood that there can be another lever O leading to the other side of the car and of a construction similar to the one shown. It

will thus be seen that the operator is able to raise the pin P from the top of the car or when standing at either side of thetrack, and said pin again seeks its operative position by gravity.

Vithin the draw-head is located a prac-v pin is held in elevated position, although the lever O or rod V may return to its normal position and the chain C may be slack. When a link approaches, its free end strikes `the plate U and drives the same to the rear,

swinging it about its pivots, and thus the pin P is allowed to drop through the link, as seen in Fig. 3. The device thus becomes an automatic coupler. When the pin is raisedand the link is again withdrawn, the plate U follows the link and swings beneath the pin, so as to hold it in elevated position ready for future use.

The outer end of the draw-head carries a horizontal frame-work F, having guides or grooves G therein. Within this frame-work is a plate P2, which is of half the length of the frame-work, and this plate has tongues moving loosely in said grooves.

V is a vertical pin passing through the frame-work at such point as to hold the plate P2 at either end thereof desired. Thus when the plate is moved to the left, as seen in this figure, the draw-head D is exposed, as shown in Fig. l; but when the pin V is raised, the plate moved to the right, and the pin reinserted the mouth of this draw-head is closed by the plate. Rigidlysecured to and projecting from said plate is a link L', approximately of the construction shown, and when the plate is moved in alignment with the draw-head (which, it will be understood, is beneath the center of the car) this link will be in proper position to couple with the drawhead of another car. By thisv construction the draw-head is changeable from a male to a female construction, and although considerable change may be made in the details of .construction without departing from the spirit of my invention I consider the general idea 95 IOO operate successfully with the draw-head, and

I therefore reserve-the right to use them, if.

preferred. i N hat is claimed as new isl. The herein-described draw-head for careouplings, the same consisting of a draw-head having an open mout-h, a frame-Work projecting laterally therefrom and having grooves or Ways, a plate moving in the grooves-there,L of, a rigid link projecting from the plate, and

means for holding the latter at either end 'of' the frame-Work, substantially as andxforzthe purpose hereinloefore set forth.

l 2. The herein-described draw-head for careonplings, the same consisting of a draw-head having an open mouth, a pin-support Within i said draw-head', a groovedl 'frame-Work proj ectin g laterally from the mouth of thedfrawhead, a plate half the length rofl saidframe- Work and moving inthe grooves thereof, a

link projecting from the center of sai-d plate,

and means for holding the plate removable at either endet the frame-Work, substantiallyas and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

3. The herein-described draw-head for careouplings, the same consisting of a draw-head having an open. mouth, a frame-work project 

